Journey of Faith Friday: Advent

I really enjoy linking up to Amber’s journey of faith Fridays, but with the busyness of fall, traveling, and getting ready for Christmas, I really haven’t had much time to write. I’m glad to be linking up this week to write about Advent!

Some of my best childhood memories are centered around the Advent. Here's a brief definition of what it means.

The word Advent is associated with the four weeks of preparation for Christmas. Advent always contains four Sundays, starting the last Sunday of November continuing until December 24. It is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas.

I attended an all-girl catholic school through 6th grade. So from as long as I can remember until I was 11 years old, my family would faithfully celebrate the advent season by gathering around the 'Advent Wreath'.

This was a circular wreath with four candles- we would light one candle each Sunday, with the final one lit the Sunday before Christmas. I remember gathering around the wreath as a family, reading from a devotional writing my school gave out, and we would sing songs about Jesus. It really brings back some good memories and I just love that we all came together as a family those Sundays no matter how busy things were. Also I think it was an 'exciting' thing as a little kid to light those candles!

I love Advent because it so greatly reminds me of a season when things at home were well and we had family and friends close to us. After we moved to Florida... well life changed after that.

I'd love to start the tradition of an 'Advent Wreath' in our family even though we are not technically Catholic anymore. It was such a fun way to spiritually prepare for the 25th and to keep our focus on what Christmas is really all about.

We haven't started the tradition yet, and I guess its mostly due to our lack of space and our teeny dining room table which is always filled with stuff- high chair cover, snacks, sippy cups, mail. It'd be so difficult to store that big old wreath! But I will be praying for some other creative way to get ready for Christmas this year.

Hope everyone has a wonderful 'advent' season!

14 months

As I reflect on all the things I'm thankful for this week, thought I would give an update on this cute little boy that melts my heart. I'm so grateful for his health and the great joy he's brought us this year!

Jack- You are 14 months old!!!

You're a busy toddler running around everywhere. You can go up and down steps, and love to climb onto anything possible (couches, boxes, slides, etc)

Your favorite things to say are mama, dada, ball, kii ka (Kitty cat), baba (water). You wave hi to people, and are pretty good about saying 'bye-bye' and opening and closing your little hand.

You've been learning to mimic animal noises.

When we say cow- you say 'mooo'
when we say puppy dog- you stick your tongue out and pant with a smirk
when we say kitty cat- you go 'meeeee' in a high pitched voice
when we say snake- you hiss

You love being outside more than anything. Thankfully 'mamaw' who watches you during the day allows you to play in her fenced yard a good amount of the day. Your best friends are her dog and grandchildren who love you and play with you everyday. They are truly such a blessing!

Your favorite foods are blueberries, cheese, and pasta. You don't like bland baby food anymore and love anything you can chew.

You love cats, puppies, squirrels, trucks, and any other little children your size.

Your favorite books are 'Baby talk' and 'Old Mcdonald had a farm' with all the animal noises

Your favorite toys are any type of ball, and anything that opens and closes... you LOVE to open and close anything you can get your hands on!

Just in the last month you've started to carry your tiger and blue blanket you sleep with at night around the house. You drag them around and then will stop in your play are to hug them... it really is so much fun to watch.

I can't believe you are growing up into a real little person before my eyes. I love you more and more each day my little buddy!

Pictures from our trip

I meant to post these pictures much earlier, but it has been a busy and overwhelming week in so many ways. I am physically and mentally worn out! I am so excited to have date night with my hubby tonight, something we rarely get to do and so badly need. Thanks to my wonderful father in law for watching Jack tonight.

I posted some of these on facebook earlier this week, but wanted to share here as well for those that are not on fb.

The beach we went to in DR was beautiful, but completely empty due to the hurricane! Literally we were the only ones on the beach for miles.

My dad with Jack

Playing on the pool with Jack

Jack never actually looks at the camera on family pictures

he melts my heart!

My dad

Steve and I out to dinner by ourselves. The manager of the hotel saw us and treated us to a bottle of wine and introduced us to some scouts from the yankees team that were down there recruiting... pretty fun for Steve!

We took a lot of walks around the hotel since there was a lot of pretty landscape

Steve, my dad, and Jack... I think my dad and Jack kind of look alike

our last night we were VERY bored (due to the bad weather) so we dressed up and took pictures

Oh and this night we tried to sneak into some famous baseball player's birthday bash he had at the hotel but did not succeed in our mission :)

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Greetings from Juan Dolio, DR

We are in the Dominican Republic enjoying some time away from home and with my dad. Thankfully we enjoyed a couple of beautiful days out in the beach, but yesterday and today its been overcast and rainy leaving us with little to do! Definititely have some cabin fever but we are enjoying our time here as best we can.

My dad got to meet his grandson for the first time and I just wanted to share some pictures of them.

Looking forward to coming back home and not looking forward to it at the same time! :)